I don’t know about you – but I’ve grown up knowing Jesus as a carpenter. I’ve even seen the bumper sticker – “My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter!”
Today I read that the word translated “carpenter” in the new testament is actually “tekton” which means a “craftsman who builds.” Most scholars agree that Jesus was more likely a stonemason who helped construct the buildings in the nearby town of Sepphoris. (only 2 miles from Nazareth) Israel’s buildings are made of stones, so Jesus’ father probably had taught him how to shape and cut stones. Archaeology has shown that Sepphoris was also constructed during the time that Jesus would have been in Nazareth, so it’s logical to think that He probably spent quite a bit of time working there.
Anyway – all this is to say – Jesus probably cut stones not wood!
Weird.
Very interesting Steve!